Ottawa (Nov 12/04) - Dehcho First Nations has not withdrawn its court case against the federal government, but the organization has agreed to keep the lines of communication open.

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian and Andy Scott, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, signed a framework agreement Friday that allows their negotiators to have out-of-court discussions without prejudicing the DFN's legal action, according to Diane Laursen, a media relations officer with DIAND.

The two leaders and their respective lawyers met in Scott's Ottawa office for approximately 45 minutes Friday.

"Out of respect for that protocol, they're not discussing publicly the meetings," Laursen said.

Norwegian was also reticent, but said there could be a development within "days, weeks maybe."

"Because of the negotiations going on right now, I don't want to prejudge what's going on," he said. "I've got to be careful... I'm treating this really delicate because it's really important to us."

Dehcho First Nations (DFN) filed two court cases against the federal government in September to halt a joint review panel struck to oversee a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline. At the time, Norwegian said DFN wanted two seats on the seven-member panel, or, at the very least, to be a signatory to the agreement. He would not say Tuesday whether DFN's demands have changed.

It was the grand chief's first face-to-face meeting with Scott. He said the minister seemed genuinely interested in overcoming the stumbling block.

"I'm sure they want to get some resolution in light of their political situation. With minority government they need big-ticket items to win on," he said. "I'm putting a lot of energy into being optimistic."